Thermal fluid temperature converter

ABSTRACT

A thermal fluid temperature converter uses temperature from a thermal fluid to preheat or precool incoming air prior to entering a household/workplace/building/appliance. The thermal fluid temperature converter includes a hollow housing, a filter placed inside the hollow housing, and a temperature exchanger placed inside the hollow housing. The temperature exchanger is adapted to receive a thermal fluid that circulates through the coils. The air enters the hollow housing, interchanges temperature with the thermal fluid circulating through the coils, and leaves the hollow housing as a heated air or a cooled air.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/415,683 filed Nov. 19, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an energy conservation device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for utilizing temperature of a thermal fluid for warming or cooling incoming air prior to entering a household appliance.

Currently, the rising cost of energy is creating a need for consumers to reduce energy expenses. Various attempts have been made to improve the efficiency of household appliances by reducing energy consumption. Unfortunately, the known devices and systems do not provide a simple, dependable, and efficient way of preheating or precooling air prior to entering the household appliance.

As can be seen, there is a need for an energy conservation device that efficiently preheats or precools the air prior to entering a household appliance system in order to conserve energy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a thermal fluid temperature converter having a hollow housing having walls, an inlet port, and an outlet port; a filter placed inside the hollow housing; a temperature exchanger placed inside the hollow housing, the temperature exchanger having an intake port, an exit port, and coils; the temperature exchanger is adapted to receive a thermal fluid, the thermal fluid circulates through the coils; and air is adapted to enter the hollow housing, transfer thermal energy with the thermal fluid circulating through the coils, and leaves the hollow housing as a heated air or a cooled air.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for preheating or precooling incoming air prior to entering a household appliance, the method comprising the steps of circulating the incoming air through a thermal fluid temperature converter comprising a hollow housing having walls, an inlet port, and an outlet port; a filter placed inside the hollow housing; a temperature exchanger placed inside the hollow housing, the temperature exchanger having an intake port, an exit port, and coils; circulating a thermal fluid through the coils of the temperature exchanger; transferring temperature between the thermal fluid and the incoming air by directing the air over the coils; the incoming air leaves the hollow housing as a warmer air or cooler air.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a thermal fluid temperature converter according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the thermal fluid temperature converter of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2; and

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the thermal fluid temperature converter of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a thermal fluid temperature converter that warms or cools incoming air prior to entering a household appliance.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a thermal fluid temperature converter 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The thermal fluid temperature converter 10 includes a hollow housing 12 having an inlet port 14 a and an outlet port 14 b. The hollow housing 12 may be made of heat resistant and non-corrosive material. In some embodiments, the hollow housing 12 may be made of stainless steel, heat, plastic, metal, wood, polymer, or composite material. The size of the hollow housing 12 may depend on the amount of air to be preheated or precooled. The hollow housing 12 may have a geometrical shape. In some embodiments, the hollow housing 12 may be square, rectangular, triangular, oval, or round.

A filter 26 may be placed inside the hollow housing 12. The filter 26 may be placed near the inlet port 14 a. The filter 26 may help filter the incoming air. A slot 30 may allow the user to insert or remove the filter 26 from the hollow housing 12. A protector 16 may cover the slot 30 to prevent air from escaping the hollow housing 12.

A temperature exchanger 18 may be placed inside the hollow housing 12. The temperature exchanger 18 may include an inlet port 20, an outlet port 22, and coils 24. A slot 31 may allow the user to insert or remove the temperature exchanger from the hollow housing 12. The temperature exchanger 18 may be a commercially available heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the temperature exchanger 18 may be a counter current heat exchanger.

An insulation layer 28 may be placed around the walls of the hollow housing 12. The insulation layer 28 may prevent the loss of energy. The insulation layer 28 may be removed or fixed to the walls of the hollow housing 12.

The thermal fluid temperature converter 10 may be a standalone device or may be used inline as intake or exhaust from the household appliance (not shown).

The air may be drawn into the thermal fluid temperature converter 10 through the inlet port 14 a. Then, the air may pass through the air filter 26 and through the temperature exchanger 18. The thermal fluid may enter the temperature exchanger 18 by the inlet port 20, circulate through the temperature exchanger 18, and exit the temperature exchanger by the outlet port 22. The thermal fluid temperature converter 10 may allow the energy to transfer between the air entering the hollow housing 12 and the thermal fluid that circulates inside the temperature exchanger 18. When the thermal fluid is hot, the air entering the hollow housing 12 may exit warmer than the air entering the hollow housing 12. When the thermal fluid is cold, the air entering the hollow housing 12 may exit as may exit cooler than the air entering the hollow housing.

Warmed air may be used to feed clothes drying devices, air heaters, curing devices, air conditioning, or water heaters.

Temperature controllers (not shown) may be added to the hollow housing 12 to control the temperature.

A fan 29 may be operatively connected to the hollow housing 12. The fan 29 may be placed inside or outside the hollow housing 12.

Dampeners (not shown) may be added to the hollow housing 12.

The thermal fluid temperature converter 10 may be used in any condition where the raising or lowering of the air temperature is required or desired.

The present invention also relates to a method for preheating or precooling incoming air prior to entering a household appliance.

The thermal fluid temperature converter 10 may be lightweight and portable. The size of the thermal fluid temperature converter 10 may be approximately 20 inches in height by 20 inches in width by 24 inches in depth.

The hollow housing 12 and the temperature exchanger 18 may weigh approximately 40 pounds. The thermal fluid temperature converter 10 may be installed in line of existing heating/drying/cooling systems.

In some embodiments, the user may install the thermal fluid temperature converter 10 in the attic or the garage. The warmer air in the attic or garage may be introduced through the inlet port 14 a to take advantage of the initial temperature of the air. This embodiment may help reduce the energy consumption.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A thermal fluid temperature converter comprising: a hollow housing having walls, an inlet port, and an outlet port; a filter placed inside the hollow housing; a temperature exchanger placed inside the hollow housing, the temperature exchanger having an intake port, an exit port, and coils; wherein the temperature exchanger is adapted to receive a thermal fluid, wherein the thermal fluid circulates through the coils; and wherein air is adapted to enter the hollow housing, transfer thermal energy with the thermal fluid circulating through the coils, and leaves the hollow housing as a heated air or a cooled air.
 2. The thermal fluid temperature converter according to claim 1, further including a slot on the hollow housing to insert or remove the temperature exchanger.
 3. The thermal fluid temperature converter according to claim 1, further including a slot on the hollow housing to insert or remove the filter.
 4. The thermal fluid temperature converter according to claim 2, further including a protector to cover the slot.
 5. The thermal fluid temperature converter according to claim 1, further including an insulation layer placed around the walls of the hollow housing.
 6. The thermal fluid temperature converter according to claim 1, further including a fan operatively connected to the hollow housing.
 7. The thermal fluid temperature converter according to claim 1, wherein the thermal fluid temperature converter is portable.
 8. A method for preheating or precooling incoming air prior to entering a household appliance, the method comprising the steps of: circulating the incoming air through a thermal fluid temperature converter comprising a hollow housing having walls, an inlet port, and an outlet port; a filter placed inside the hollow housing; a temperature exchanger placed inside the hollow housing, the temperature exchanger having an intake port; an exit port, and coils; circulating a thermal fluid through the coils of the temperature exchanger; transferring temperature between the thermal fluid and the incoming air by directing the air over the coils; and wherein the incoming air leaves the hollow housing as a warmer air or cooler air.
 9. The method according to claim 7, further including a fan operatively connected to the hollow housing. 